How much car to pull a 26-D out of the water ?

[JVB]

I have been storing my Mac 26-D on its trailer at a marina where they use a tractor to take my boat & trailer to the water and back to its parking space 100 feet from the ramp. I drive a Mazda Miata which by no stretch could do the same job at a sailing club that I'm contemplating joining. (The sailing club does not have a tow vehicle.) I don't want to buy a SUV with its poor gas mileage and sluggish handling. I don't think I need the trailer towing capacity of the vehicle I buy to be equal or more than 2500 pounds (loaded trailer weight) because I'm not taking it far or fast. Is that a good assumption ? How much of a car do I need to handle the 200 feet or less trips from the parking lot down the ramp to launch the boat and the corresponding retrieval ? It's a typical concrete ramp and typical steepness.

 

[novelman17128]

How much car?

I pull a loaded Venture 22' (2,500-3,000 pounds) all over southern California as well as over some long grades with my 2001 Toyota Highlander V-6 with 220 HP and front wheel drive. I get 22 MPG without the trailer and 15-17 pulling the boat and trailer. The medium sized SUV is on a passenger car frame and drives and rides like a car. It also has a button that starts the SUV out in second gear to more easily pull the boat and trailer up a slick slope of the ramp. Check it out.Novelman

 

[JVB]

Mid-size SUV is too much

A medium-sized SUV, like the Highlander, is a lot more vehicle than I want for the other 99.9% of the mileage I will put on the car. A Ford Escape (20 to 24 mpg) will do the 200 foot pull up the ramp job and highway towing too (3500 lb capacity with V6 & towing package). I am looking to go with an even lighter, more fuel efficient vehicle than that, perhaps a 30+ mpg Honda Civic. But only IF the light vehicle will be adequate for pulling the 2500 pound loaded boat trailer up a typical concrete boat ramp. I am NOT looking for highway towing capacity in this vehicle. I have access to another vehicle for highway towing. The question is what light vehicles will do that 200 foot pull out job without damaging the vehicle or getting stuck on the ramp due to inadequate power or traction ?

 

[Night Sailor]

Where?

Where are you going to need it? Know this before you buy.IF you are in a tidal area, the bottom of the ramp at low tide may be covered with sea growth, where rear drive only doesn't do well. FWD or AWD or 4x4 is your best bet.If you have a ramp that is more than a 12% grade, you may need AWD or 4x4 to get up when wet.Don't even try if the loaded boat outweighs your vehicle. It can pull you backwards into the water with the brakes locked on a wet ramp!Few vehicles designed for economy have much torque at start up speed. Not a good fit for towing up a ramp.Lightweight rear drive pickups or sedans will create a lot of wheel spin unless gear is loaded in the rear of the vehicle and the gas tank is full.Although I could tow my X with my 2005 Escape V6 with AWD. I've seen enough cars and trucks get in serious trouble on boat ramps in the last 50 years, that I tow it with my 4x4 Expedition every time. Gas is not as expensive as junking the car because the boat pulled it into the water.

 

[Lowell TenClay]

How Much Car

I own a Mac 25, which may be a bit heavier that your 26D if it's drained, but I pull it with a 2000 Dodge Caravan... 6 cyl, front wheel drive, automatic. It has plenty of power to pull the boat out, but I have had a bit of trouble with tire spin on a steep, wet ramp. (grooved concrete) I also have no trouble pulling it up to 70 MPH on Iowa interstates except on long, steep grades, where I loose some speed... Never had problems with overheating, even in 90 F weather. So the problems have less to do with power, and more to do with traction. That makes a 4 wheel drive vehicle attractive.

 

[Mac]

2004 Mercury Sable

I use my company car. Don't tell my boss. I don't tow it out of the yatch club and travel on the highway. The car has more than enough power. My boss thinks it is for my bike rack. Oh well.....

 

[Ed]

Rent one

Why don't you just rent a pickup or bigger car with a hitch for the launch/retrieval? You can get them by the hour at Home Depot. Just have a ball handy if the vehicle has none.

 

[Stuart Casteel]

No Worrys

I own a Mac 26 D and tow it all over the country with my 1983 ford econoline van. It has a straight 6 300 that has had no problems with any scenario so far. It is rear wheel drive and as light as a tin can. The key is tounge weight-you need enough to apply traction to the rear wheels of the van. 200+lb. but know more than 300lb. in my case. -S-

 

[Abby Normal]

4 Cyl Is a Gamble

Any four cylinder is going to struggle like heck to get the boat up the ramp. A four cylinder tractor will do it with less horsepower because it's high gear is still a higher gear ratio than low gear on your car.Other part is, you want a vehicle which will have more weight than the boat and trailer combo. Just guessing, but I'd bet the boat and trailer outweigh your Miata. Simple physics would bear out that having the heavier load on the water-side of the ramp, it will pull harder on the lighter vehicle on the parking lot side of the ramp.Why not keep the Miata and find a clapped-out old van or truck and keep it at the Yacht club or just take the plunge and enjoy the convenience of a slip?I've got a 1/2 ton full size pick up and started out trailer-sailing out of the dry storage at my marina. After two weeks of that hassle, I gave in and spent the extra $70 a month for a wet slip with water and electricity included.At the minimum, I believe you will need something with a V-6 from a weight and power stand-point to prevent your tow vehicle from becoming a U-Boat.

 

[oreana123]

Overkill

I have been using a 97 ford turbo diesel to pull my D around the country and up boat ramps. Instead of barely able to manage the job, this truck will even launch and pull out the boat and trailer where there is no boat ramp.The best I get maybe 20 MPG on the freeway at 75 mph and all the gear I can pack with my family too. That is not great mileage, and by no means does the truck handle like the new vehicles BUT it is paid for! Not having a new vehicle payment and insurance is a trade off I'll take. A little more for fuel is way less than the payment on a new rig, and I know where the maintenance has been done- in my driveway!Hey You Yours, how much is the payment on that new truck?

 

[MrBill_FLL]

blow the balast,

first, I'd recommend getting a 12v high pressure, low volume, air mattress type pump, and plumbing it into the vent hole, so you can blow the water, EVERY TIME.(Francois has a nice system... search the trailersailor board...)that should allow you to stay in the 4-6cyl category.next issue will be the weight on the rear axles, and car 'sqat'(suspension compression).YES, you will completely compress the suspension. and you may want to check the load rating on those tires... pumping up the pressure to the tires max rating (at least).if you have a clutch in the mita, well, you're screwed... you'll need a new vehicle. you could try it for a little while, but the clutch will burn up... fast.I'd say a 6cyl pickup truck, like a ford ranger or s10. but mini vans can do it. auto trans would be better too.I've towed many boats/trls with under powered cars... just need to plan ahead to stop. brake in a straight line, never ever go over 55. and its good to be lucky! fwiw, I have a 5.4 gas expedition... getting 14 mpg... but I pulled a 5000# 29' go fast w/ 3 axle trl with a 4.0 ltr Explorer... about 5 miles. not very fast... not very smart, but I did it...

 

[Alex]

Rent a truck

Just be careful with the fine print. They don't like you tow anything with a rental.I researched this quite extensively before buying a mini-van to tow my M26S. I was planning to buy a smaller car because I can't stand people driving hugh SUV without a hitch or ever left the road. That means the SUV is a symbol of "wants" not "needs".Any 6cyl 3.0L+ with auto tranny will do just fine. Optionally add a transmission cooler will be much safer. I use a Toyota Sienna to tow a M26S over long distance with no problem. I have a class 2 hitch. If the trailer has no surge brakes, just drive carefully and plan ahead so you won't jack knife. Put the beer and supplies in front of the axle to reduce fish tailing.

 

[JVB]

Is a small 4x4 pickup enough ?

Thanks for all the suggestions. Assume that age, appearance, and condition are the same for all the candidate vehicles. Does anyone disagree that the minimum cost vehicle capable of hauling a 26D on a trailer up a typical concrete ramp would a 4 by 4 small pickup truck ?

 

[Alex]

Subaru Forester

Someone I know tow a M25 with a Subaru Forester 2.5L 4cyl 4x4. I think M25 with metal keel is heaver than a 26D which is water balast.

 

[MrBill_FLL]

JVB, small pu should be fine

for the stated use and distance a s10/ford ranger pickup should be fine.2wd should work, but 4x4 would be better no doubt.many mini vans pull these boats. fwiw I keep a small 2x4 or 4x4 in the car just in case it would start to slip... to toss under the front wheel.

 

[Justin_NSA]

4.0 works fine

I definitely notice the boat while coming up the ramp with the ballast full in my 4.0 Aerostar. The rest of the time it pulls fine. The RWD drivetrain is better suited for this work than FWD IMO, however I think any truck, SUV or van will work better than a car from the suspension standpoint.

 

[Lamar]

I used to do it with a Ford Ranger, 4 cly, 5 speed

Launch and retrieve only. I would barely pull it up the ramp, let the water drain, pull it all the way out and put it up. Took one time to get it down, and then would freak people out launching and retrieving. This was in Florida, I'm sure the ramps/tides in SC (as Ga where I now live) are worse. I would not try it today in Ga with a Ranger at low tide, high tide maybe.

 

[larry abbott]

tongue extender

This might be sorta kinda related. Has anyone used a tongue extender when putting in or taking out? Looks like it can keep the car's rear wheels out of the water and on the (hopefully) dry section of the ramp. This might influence the need for AWD, FWD, RWD. Larry

 

[Justin_NSA]

Good point Larry

The local new Catalinas come with tongue extensions. I think some Mac owners have modified their trailers with one. I think it's an excellent idea that could open the tow(launch) vehicle options some.